Barratt London and Places for London have secured planning approval for the next phase of its Bollo Lane site, following a unanimous decision by Ealing London Borough Council’s planning committee. The site, which sits between Bollo Lane and the Piccadilly railway lines by Acton Town Station, was the first development to be announced as part of the West London Partnership, an industry-leading collaboration that will unlock more than 4,000 new homes over the next decade. The Bollo Lane project will be delivered in four phases and will provide up to 900 new homes once complete.  Each residential phase will deliver 50% affordable housing to rent or buy. Construction works are due to begin this spring, with the first phase comprising 195 one, two and three-bedroom homes for private and affordable rent. The second phase that will be unlocked by the committee approval will deliver 455 new homes for affordable and private sale over the next five years.  In addition to delivering much-needed new homes, the project will create an entirely new street frontage along the western edge of Bollo Lane, providing extensive areas of new public realm alongside 20,000 sq ft of commercial and retail spaces. Residents will benefit from two new podium gardens, whilst the wider community will enjoy biodiverse green spaces through the creation of a new public square and community garden on land that was previously inaccessible to the public. The scheme has been designed to promote healthy and active travel methods, with new pedestrian and cycle routes linking Acton Town and Chiswick. Biodiversity and sustainability have been carefully considered at every stage of scheme design. The proposals for Phase 2 are set to achieve a biodiversity net gain of 126%, with an urban greening factor of 0.47. There will be 250 new trees planted across the development, whilst highly efficient buildings will use sustainable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and generate lower energy bills for residents. Section 106 contributions agreed with Ealing London Borough Council will see more than £3m contributed to Education, Healthcare, Transport and other improvements in the Borough. In addition, the project will create up to 500 new jobs over the course of the development, and 20 new apprenticeships will be made available thanks to the West London Partnership. Craig Carson, Managing Director at Barratt West London, comments: “We are pleased to receive the unanimous approval of Ealing’s Planning Committee for our updated Bollo Lane proposals, on what is a key strategic site for the West London Partnership. Since Places for London appointed us as their formal development partner for the site two years ago, we have worked closely on our shared vision to bring plans forward and ensure we deliver a site to be truly proud of. Our partnership at Bollo Lane will unlock nearly 900 new homes, and with half of these affordable, we are working in tandem with Places for London and Ealing London Borough Council to meet the housing needs in the borough.” Jonathan Cornelius, Head of Property Development at Places for London, comments: “It is fantastic news to get the go ahead for our plans at Bollo Lane in Acton Town. This milestone is a significant step in our plans to deliver around 900 homes here – our largest development to date. “Our plans have been designed to reflect the area’s heritage and context, such as the Grade II-listed station next to it, and will bring hundreds of the homes that London urgently needs. “The scheme will benefit the local community with welcoming green spaces, improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities and new commercial opportunities for local businesses.” To find out more about Barratt London visit www.barrattlondon.com or for further details on Places for London visit www.placesforlondon.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Following the success of its award-winning St Osyth Priory development, now completely sold, award-winning housebuilder City & Country is starting work on 190 high-quality new homes at Priory Fields, also set adjacent to the grounds of the ancient St Osyth Priory near Colchester in Essex. The first homes will be available to buy off-plan from Spring 2025. The new development will include a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses, all carefully designed to offer luxurious modern living while blending with the character of the historic Priory, parts of which are Grade I and II* Listed. With access to a private circular walk around the grounds of the historic Estate, extensive landscaping and green open spaces, residents here will be surrounded by nature as well as centuries of history. Now an established events venue, St Osyth Priory dates back to the 12th century, when it was founded as a monastery, dedicated to Saint Osyth – a local noblewoman after whom the nearby village is named, who founded a convent in the seventh century. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the priory passed first to Thomas Cromwell, then to Princess Mary, remaining a private home until the First World War when it was requisitioned by the Army, later being used as a convalescent home. The priory was acquired and repurposed in 1999 and has since undertaken a complete refurbishment of the estate, with new homes, holiday accommodation, a working rare breeds farm, a luxury wedding and events venue and a country pub, as well as the restoration of the 16 separate listed buildings on the site. After the success of City & Country’s first development of 73 private homes on the site, which won a Silver award for its public realm in the Whathouse? Awards 2023 and Housebuilder of the Year in 2024, the new build and historic renovations specialist was the obvious choice to develop a further 30 acres of land adjacent to St Osyth Priory, which is within walking distance of the quaint village of St Osyth. Priory Fields is located just five miles from the bright lights and sandy beaches of Clacton-on-Sea and 12 miles from the historic town of Colchester with its castle and Roman walls – the longest and best preserved in the country. Colchester is known for its independent shops and high street names, including a Fenwick department store, the thriving Mercury Theatre, grammar schools and University of Essex campus. Trains from Colchester, Clacton and Great Bentley offer convenient direct services to London Liverpool Street. Meanwhile, the village of St Osyth has a range of local, independently run pubs, bistros and restaurants, convenience stores, a busy seasonal street market and amenities including a primary school and GP surgery. The homes at Priory Fields will be varied in design to create an environment that is enhanced by the grandeur of the nearby listed buildings, while the off-the-beaten track nature of the development will guarantee peace and privacy. Rare breed animals, including white deer, roam the grounds, while the natural wetlands and ponds close to the river provide a habitat for marshland and coastal birds. At various points around the estate residents can enjoy beautiful views towards Brightlingsea and Mersea Island and sunsets over the estuary. With public nature reserve, Martin’s Farm Country Park opposite Priory Fields is only a short five-minute walk away. Shelley West, Group Sales and Marketing Director at City & Country, comments: “Our first development in this fabulous location sold out exceptionally quickly, so we are delighted to be starting work on Priory Fields, which will launch a wide variety of homes offering the perfect mix of modern living in a historic, country setting. Surrounded by peace and nature, with beautiful walks, quiet beaches and the quaint village of St Osyth just a stroll away, Priory Fields on the Essex coastline offers life at a slower pace – in a setting enjoyed by monks, saints and royalty for over a thousand years.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Major homebuilder Cala has launched a new business division, Cala Southern, as part of its growth strategy across the South of England. Cala Southern will spearhead the company’s westward expansion, enhancing Cala’s presence in Dorset, Hampshire and Southern Wiltshire, to meet strong demand for high-quality housing. The new division will also manage Cala’s existing live sites in these counties, including Winchester, Wimborne and Fordingbridge, previously overseen by Cala Thames. Cala Southern will be led by incoming managing director Rod Martin who brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked across the housebuilding sector for almost 25 years, including in leadership positions at Taylor Wimpey and Redrow. This year, Cala Southern will deliver 400 homes, with plans to increase this to over 500 homes annually by 2028. The division’s new headquarters in Winchester will open in March, and the region will support around 90 new direct roles so far, and hundreds more jobs through subcontractor partners and the supply chain. Kevin Whitaker, CEO of Cala Group commented: “Our strategy to expand Cala’s presence in the South West of England has taken a significant step forward. The expertise within our team and success of our high-quality, sustainable homes across England, have given us the confidence to invest in Cala Southern.” “Cala is well-positioned to achieve our goal of building over 4,000 homes by 2029, across the Group. Aligned with this ambition, our teams throughout the UK are proactively looking to invest in sites with and without planning permission, for both short-term and future development. They have the skill and financial backing to unlock potential across the full range of planning and development opportunities.”                       “We’re delighted to welcome Rod to the Cala Southern business. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the local market and our customer profile will further strengthen our team as they continue to invest in opportunities across the new patch.” Rod Martin, Managing Director of Cala Southern added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Cala at such an exciting time as we announce the launch of the Southern division. The business is already in a strong position, with 1,800 homes in the pipeline to be delivered between now and 2028.” “We will soon be opening our new head office in Winchester, which will perfectly position Cala to further capitalise on markets across Dorset, Hampshire and southern Wiltshire. We are focused on building on Cala’s success in the region to date and look forward to forging new relationships as we further expand the business.” Cala has a long-term plan for growth in England. The strategic decision to launch Cala Southern has been accelerated by the strong performance of Cala’s Thames division, which completed over 560 homes and delivered over £225m turnover in 2024. Cala Thames aims to deliver more than 1,800 homes in prime residential locations in Surrey, Berkshire and central Wiltshire by 2028. For more information about Cala Southern visit: www.cala.co.uk/southernland Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Award-winning housebuilder, Spitfire Homes, recently hosted a fully booked launch event for prospective buyers to view its highly-anticipated show home at Maybank, a collection of design-led new properties in Halesowen.  New data from Zoopla has revealed the housing market has made the strongest start to a year since 2022, with new sales agreed increasing by 12% year-on-year. Located at the former Sandvik HQ, the new West Midlands address includes a range of 61 two-to four-bedroom homes, plus two one-bedroom maisonettes, and first occupations are set from Spring 2025. All properties at Maybank include energy-efficient air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, and electric vehicle charging points, all as standard. In addition to retaining existing woodland, Spitfire is planning to plant a number of trees and enhance green areas to encourage wildlife and preserve the natural environment. Matt Vincent, Operations Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “We have seen unprecedented levels of interest at Maybank since acquiring the site in 2023, and the opening of the new show home marks a significant and exciting milestone for the collection.   “Our database has been consistently growing and there was a real sense of anticipation ahead of the opening weekend, with a number of customers having already visited show homes at our other collections across the Midlands to experience the Spitfire difference. We are already 10 per cent sold prior to the show home launch so we would urge any prospective buyers to schedule their appointment to view.” The Midlands-based housebuilder welcomed customers to explore the Kedleston, a four-bedroom detached family home showcasing Spitfire’s Signature specification. As the largest property available at Maybank, it boasts an open-plan kitchen and dining area, as well as a spacious living room and study ideal for home working. Upstairs, the home presents four double bedrooms, including a premium en suite to the primary and a four-piece family bathroom.  Dean Grove, Managing Director at Grove Properties Group, the instructed selling agent for Maybank, added: “We are not surprised by the high level of interest at Maybank because Spitfire Homes has a growing reputation as one of the leading housebuilders in the region, and the show home is testament to why that is. We’ve also found that buyers are prioritising futureproof homes due to the financial benefits of sustainable technologies and the general change in attitudes towards living a greener lifestyle, something that aligns well with Spitfire’s energy-efficient homes.” To find out more about Spitfire Homes, or schedule your appointment to view the show home at Maybank, please visit: https://spitfirehomes.co.uk/find-your-home/maybank/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has extended its partnership with housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) to deliver 256 homes at Finchwood Park in Wokingham. Having now completed the land purchase of parcel 10 at Finchwood Park from Cala Homes, the 256 homes to be built on the site have been forward sold to MTVH. Reserved matters planning permission has already been granted for these 256 homes, of which 35% will be affordable housing, delivered in a variety of tenures.  Vistry will deliver these new homes for MTVH in a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses. Construction on Parcel 10 will commence in early 2025. This deal follows the exchange of contracts with Cala Homes in September 2024 on five parcels of land at Finchwood Park in Finchampstead, near Wokingham. In total, these five parcels of land will deliver over 600 new homes, as part of the wider development of 1,500 homes being brought forward by Cala Homes. With outline permission already granted, Vistry will submit detailed planning applications for the remaining parcels of land in early 2025, with construction on those phases then expected to begin in the latter part of 2025. Trevor Wicks, Managing Director for Vistry Thames Valley, said: “We’re excited to extend Vistry’s strong relationship with MTVH through these 256 homes at Finchwood Park, which will make a significant improvement to the provision of affordable housing and the availability of green open spaces in the area. With detailed planning permission already granted, our team is looking forward to starting construction on these high-quality new homes imminently.” Guy Burnett, Executive Director of Development at MTVH, commented: “MTVH is pleased to be involved in this partnership with the Vistry Group for the delivery of 256 homes at Finchwood Park in Wokingham. This development is an exciting project which will deliver a variety of mixed housing, many of which will be affordable homes, and continues our long-standing relationship with Vistry. “This is also a crucial step in helping to alleviate the housing pressures facing the local community in the Southeast. As the new homes are of a mix of sizes, these benefits will be felt by families and single people alike. Continuing these partnerships is crucial as we work to deliver the homes which ensure everyone has the chance to live in a safe, warm, and affordable home and to live well.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Caddick is building its placemaking pipeline in Birmingham with its appointment to deliver the first phase of Cole Waterhouse’s flagship regeneration project, Upper Trinity Street in Digbeth.  The 182,986 sq. ft residential project inaugurates a wider regeneration of the Upper Trinity Street scheme in Digbeth, and will comprise 211 apartments in total, 115 of which will be one-bedroom and 96 two-bedroom apartments. Construction will commence imminently following demolition and enabling works by Caddick.  Caddick’s contract will include the design and build of the apartments, amenities space, external works and the development of a shared courtyard area, as well as management and fit-out. Due for completion in Spring 2027, the development spans three individual blocks, the tallest of which is 10 storeys high.     Ray O’Sullivan, Regional Managing Director for Caddick Construction Midlands, comments: “Cole Waterhouse has visualised an ambitious and impressive masterplan to create a thriving creative and cultural hub at Upper Trinity Street, and we’re proud to have been appointed to bring this vision to life in phase one. Caddick has built its extensive expertise delivering high-quality residential projects across the North, and as we take on new and exciting projects in the Midlands, we look forward to bringing our skillset to Upper Trinity Street for our valued client, Cole Waterhouse.” Damian Flood, CEO at Cole Waterhouse commented: “Entering into a contract with Caddick enables us to undertake this exciting project with Taurus, Housing Growth Partnership and BGO. This is our first Joint Venture with the professional team at Housing Growth Partnership and we are all excited to bring forward the first phase of UTS, which will be one of the catalysts for the  further regeneration of Digbeth, demonstrating our confidence in delivering much needed housing in this key part of the City.” The project marks Caddick’s second major regeneration development in the Midlands, adding to the nearby Port Loop scheme, which has seen Caddick build 58 new-build apartments on behalf of Urban Splash and Places for People.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Emerging housebuilder Honey has achieved remarkable growth, securing 21 sites across Yorkshire and the Midlands to deliver 2,850 homes with a gross development value of £795 million—all within just two years of trading. Launched in October 2022, the Sheffield-headquartered company has quickly established itself as a key player in the UK housing market. For the financial year ending 31 December 2024, Honey has already secured £85 million in total forward sales. Earlier this year, the company also launched a partnerships division, which will initially deliver 286 affordable homes across four sites, generating forward sales of £60 million. Negotiations are also underway for two additional partnerships sites, totalling a further 238 units. With five active developments, Honey has achieved a sales rate of 0.69 for the year, with an average selling price of £290,000. The company has also earned a 100% customer satisfaction score in all independent surveys conducted by In-house Research, reinforcing its reputation for quality and service. From 2024, these metrics will be measured against the Home Builders Federation (HBF) customer satisfaction survey. Honey currently employs 80 people across its two regional headquarters in Sheffield and Leeds. The company has secured £235 million in funding, including £75 million in equity investment from private equity firm Alchemy Partners and £160 million in bank financing from four leading lenders. Mark Mitchell, founder and chief executive of Honey, expressed confidence in the company’s trajectory: *”We are significantly ahead of where we expected to be at this stage. Our homes have been incredibly well received, offering the perfect blend of style, quality, and sustainability—delivering exactly what buyers want at an accessible price point. Now firmly in our build-and-sell phase, we remain committed to providing outstanding new homes with exceptional customer care before, during, and after purchase. With strong financial backing, we are actively seeking new sites and plan to expand further south into the Midlands this year.”* Thomas Boszko of Alchemy Partners praised Honey’s rapid progress: “Mark and the team have delivered incredible growth in just two years, and 2024 will be another significant milestone for the business. We are excited to continue supporting Honey as it strengthens its presence across Yorkshire and the Midlands.” Over the past year, Honey has been shortlisted for nine national and regional property and business awards, reflecting its innovative approach to housebuilding. “We have built an agile and forward-thinking team, and it’s fantastic to see our approach being recognised both within the industry and the wider business community,” Mark added. “By thinking differently and keeping the needs of modern homebuyers at the heart of our designs, we are redefining what buyers can expect from a new home.” Honey’s 23 house types are designed using detailed consumer research to meet the evolving needs of today’s buyers, with a focus on flexibility and functionality. Every home features bi-fold doors, fully integrated designer kitchens, boutique-style bathrooms with a signature freestanding bath, full-height tiling, and an electric vehicle charging point as standard. As Honey continues to expand, its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction ensures it remains one of the most exciting new names in the UK housebuilding industry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals